We’re thrilled to be taking part in the 31st year of the National Theatre Connections Festival. For anyone new to Connections, it’s the National Theatre’s annual nationwide youth theatre festival – a celebration of young people’s creativity, imagination, and talent across the UK. The programme has a long and proud history of empowering the next generation of theatre-makers, and for another year, our Theatre Company at The Workshop is stepping forward to make its mark.
Our involvement begins with a Home Performance at The Discovery Centre on 9th April at 6-7pm, followed by The Garage’s Partner Theatre Festival, where youth groups from across the region will travel to Norwich between 16–26 April to perform their plays on our stage. To give you a deeper insight into this year’s work, we spoke with our Theatre Company, their Director, Ben Martin, and Support Volunteer, Mikey about their chosen play: Cloud Busting by Helen Blakeman.
Theatre Company were delighted to be allocated their first‑choice play. Cloud Busting tells the story of a boy who hides his friendship with someone who’s being bullied, and the moment he must decide whether to stay silent or finally stand up. It’s a powerful exploration of peer pressure, loyalty, and courage. Director Ben explains why the play resonated so strongly with the group, “Bullying has often come up in our workshop sessions, and many schools in King’s Lynn have seen a worrying rise in incidents. Through theatre, we’ve explored themes of independence, acceptance, and inclusion – and Cloud Busting has sparked powerful conversations among our young performers.”
As part of the behind the scenes Connections process, directors are invited to a Directors Weekend in London – a unique opportunity to collaborate with National Theatre artists, playwrights, industry professionals, and fellow directors. The weekend is designed to support rehearsal practice and respond to feedback from previous years. Director, Ben reflects “The weekend was great for understanding the thoughts behind the play, bouncing ideas off the playwrights themselves, and exploring the sensitive themes that come up.”
Let’s meet Theatre Company.. This year’s group is made up of 8 exceptional young actors, some who have taken part in NT Connections previously, while for others it’s their first time taking part. They’ve all been working incredibly hard, learning lines quickly, supporting one another and bringing real heart to the rehearsal room. Ben adds “The adaption is beautifully written and has truly resonated with our cast.”
This project has also opened a volunteering opportunity for Mikey, who first came to us seeking experience in directing and filmmaking. He now supports the group’s development and has gained a wealth of transferable skills for his future career – all while watching the young performers grow in confidence and craft.
If this sparks your curiosity, secure your seats for the Home Performance in King’s Lynn by clicking here!
You can also enjoy 12 additional productions as part of The Garage’s Connections Partner Festival – including work from our sister site, The Garage Norwich’s Theatre Company. Explore the full Festival programme here!